ShanIAmVA

I love not seeing my cheeks in my peripheral vision anymore! 😀

Hey all! I was sleeved on 5/10 and feeling absolutely great. I have had no complications and can stomach just about everything I eat (on plan) at this point. Although, like others have recently mentioned, my tastes have changed and sometimes I get sad when I think about going the rest of my life not being able to gorge on food. The thought of a buffet gives me anxiety because really - what do you choose when you want to choose it all?!

Only discomfort I have started to get recently is the scar tissue under my skin where the incisions were. My doctor said to expect this because during surgery nerve-endings were cut and as they start to heal you can start to feel where the surgery happened. It's not painful at all. It just feels like a bruise when I press on it to clean in shower or something rubs up against it.

Anyone else have this now being that you are at least 4 weeks out from surgery?

Oh, and does anyone else think about the surgery and food and Protein and Water and what to have to eat that day like every waking moment? For me, it's obsessive. I have been losing on average half a pound a day so I sit there and calculate how many more days/months it will take to loose X amount of weight and I even factor in losing less a day as my BMI drops. Seriously, I feel crazy! haha

On 6/14/2021 at 11:45 AM, MistySkye said:

Is 16 the magic number? 😂 I am two weeks post-op today and down 16. Most of that was the first week. My surgeon gave the lecture on it doesn’t happen overnight. You will have stalls. It’s a 12-18 month process.

But I didn't sign up for a 12-18 month process. I signed up for the 12-18 day package. LOL And I do believe 16 is the magic number. LOL I had my obligatory 3 week stall but back to losing again. YAY!

I started using a straw 3 weeks post sleeve and never caused me any issues. I decided to give it a go when I was finally able to take in more than just a small sip. Definitely helps with my Fluid intake!

I am almost 2 weeks from surgery (5/10) but between the 2 week pre-op and liquids since surgery, I can finally feel comfortable wearing a shirt that does NOT cover my butt!

13 minutes ago, Jmk77379 said:

I also had out patient surgery 5/10, I was heading home at 3pm and ready to go. Just get up and start walking when they ask you too and take sips of Water. I only took pain meds for 3 days and slept a lot, by day 4 I felt much better. I'm looking forward to getting on pureed foods on Monday 5/24.

Hi there! I had my surgery on 5/10 but went to Mexico. There they had me in the hospital for 2 days and then I convalesced at a hotel (resort, actually) for another 2 days - staffed with nurses - before flying home. By the time I needed to board the plane, I was feeling pretty great. Looking back I can't imagine this surgery being outpatient but I am so glad it worked out for you!

I can't wait for pureed foods either! Right now I am drinking Protein Shakes, Decaf herbal tea and Tomato Soup. Sometimes I'll have a SF pudding, Jello or popsicle. I just bought an air fryer and a bariatric air fryer cookbook. I am so ready to move on to actual FOOD! Healthier and smaller portions, of course.

How are your incisions doing? Last night I decided to leave the bandages off of all of them except the drain tube hole as that one needs a little more TLC. But they have all scabbed over. No redness, just a little itchy around the incisions.

9 minutes ago, Shannon In MN said:

I can completely relate to this!! I just had surgery on Monday the 3rd (sleeve) and only told my boyfriend since we live together and obviously I need his help. I tried talking to my best friend about it and she came across judgmental saying why not just do it on my own and how I don't need it and basically implying its the easy way out - which it definitely isn't. The moment she started talking I knew right then and there that my "skinny" friends just wouldn't understand. So its my secret and my decision to keep it to myself. Its your journey to share with as many or as little people as you want.

I just found this group today and am excited to have others to relate to!! Thanks for sharing your experience.

I have lost weight on my own before in the past. It can be done but putting it back on is just too easy. But what I learned then is that my skinny friends wanted me to stay fat, because they wanted to be the skinny friend, and my fat friends wanted me to stay fat. You may have that issue too when your weight loss is more noticeable but yeah, I don't need to hear judgement before surgery! As long as your boyfriend was supportive and you are happy with YOUR decision, that's all that matters. Everyone else can suck it.

Congrats on your decision and hope you are recovering well!

Thank you so much everyone for your responses. The closer I get to surgery (May 10th), the happier I am that I didn't make the decision to tell anyone -- except for my mom as she is my emergency contact. And OMG, she is driving me nuts with the phone calls and texts.

Yes mom, I'm sure.

Yes mom, I'm still getting it done.

No mom, you stay home.

Yes mom, I know that I am not just going to wake up after surgery and be skinny!

Thank you Mom but No, I don't need your mother's sister-in-law's recipe for broth.

This time next week I'll be 3 days post op. Crazy to finally say that!

Hello hello my May peeps! My date is May 10th. Having a VSG in Mexico. I leave Saturday and will be in San Diego for a couple days. Seeing the sights, drinking Clear Liquids, planting my face against restaurant windows in Old Town. Good times!

Pre-op hasn't been terrible as I was able to have chicken and veggies and sugar free popsicles but someone kept adding a teaspoon of blue cheese crumbles into my salad that first week. I live alone so not sure how that happened. And within a few days I got addicted to Protein Café Latte shakes and had to watch my intake Why I can't do anything in moderation, I'll never know! It's like I need to be addicted to something. Wish it was exercise but whatever.

I hope everyone with May surgeries and beyond are doing well and have a lifechanging experience!! I am so thankful to this forum!

Yeah, my program does not allow fruit juice either. When I need to satisfy my sweet craving I'll have a sugar free ice pop or grape flavored Crystal light. But I had to ditch ALL my juices when I started pre-op. And broth really helps with my salt cravings. Although I am trying to limit having broth because I don't want to get sick of it before I start my liquid only!

3 minutes ago, samann said:

My surgery as May 6th and I did not tell anyone about the sleeve, however, I was having issues with my heartburn and part of my tests before surgery found that I had hiatal hernia, just told my coworkers and family I was going in to get that fixed. I too don't want to tell anyone. It's personal and that's okay..... Good Luck we got this

Sent from my LM-G900TM using BariatricPal mobile app

Oh no, I am so sorry about the hernia but glad that it was detected and it can be taken care of at the same time. And you are so right - it IS personal. I am a very private person too and telling everyone my business has never been comfortable for me. I can do it here, on the internet, but never ever IRL. And when I am sick, I just want to be left alone. I can't deal with hovering. LOL

Good luck to you also. May 6th will be here very very soon. I'll be looking forward to sharing our updates!

6 hours ago, TimeToFeelFit said:

Some people thrive off of support. Some find their way best on their own. I am in the latter group. Only my husband knows and he is the only one who will ever know. It’s no ones business as far as I’m concerned. You do what is best for you! If you lose weight quickly and questions start, say “Thanks! I’m working hard at it”. And you know what? You will be telling the truth! You got this girl! Do it your way. However it works best for you is the “right” way.

Thank you my height and GW twin. The closer I get to having surgery the more convinced I am that only telling one person (mother) was the absolute right decision. And lately I am regretting even telling her. I get a LOT of calls and texts giving me pre-op diet advice and mental preparedness advice. I finally had to tell her to give it a rest. LOL Of course, I did tell her that I appreciated her enthusiasm and support. haha

Thank you for your response and validation!

I am on pre-op now but my doctor only provided a list of suggested Protein Shakes and Premier was one of them. What I would do is ask your doctor (bypass the nurse - no pun intended haha ) and tell them that you had already purchased XYZ and your budget is not permitting (or struggling with) the purchase of Bariatric Advantage. And ask the doctor if that is a deal breaker for your surgery.

At the very least, perhaps they can discount the cost to something less than $90.

The good news is that you'll be drinking these even after surgery so maybe buy their product for pre-op and save the Premier shakes for post-op.

6 hours ago, Ddavis5759 said:

I understand how you feel...helpless and frustrated. When I had gastric sleeve surgery on 2/13/2014, it was in Tijuana (cost was less that $5,000 at the time)! This was because of insurance denying my initial attempt (I wasn't going to appeal since my health was in jeopardy. Now I need a revision to gastric bypass, I kinda expect the same response. Of course, now with COVID, Tijuana is high risk, if I was allowed to go and it was safe. But do not give up, nothing will change if you stop trying.

Pain stopped me from working in October 2018, and due to lots of meds, I have gained almost all the weight that I lost, and kept off over five years. I share your frustration-let's keep going until we get what we need!

I am going to Tijuana, Mexico for my sleeve on May 10th and the cost is the same today as it was in 2014. Although there is an additional fee of $80 because the first place they take you once they pick you up from airport is to a clinic to perform a CT scan because of COVID. It's a nominal fee, IMO.

I do not have a fear of flying during the pandemic but I understand that might be a showstopper for others. And the hospitals there take the same safety precautions as we do here in the States. And now that vaccinations are available to most everyone now, that can always be taken care of before you go.

I'm really just saying all this because I don't want you, or even the OP, to be deterred from taking that route even in the world of COVID. I would never have been approved here. I don't have any significant underlying medical issues due to weight and my BMI does not quite reach the requirements to qualify. Mexico was my only, and financially best, option.

JaysWife - If you get another denial, why don't ask your doctor what they think of surgery in Mexico. Personally, my physician cheered me on. Good luck to you. I know how much this means to you.

19 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Sounds like he didn’t like being around you because it forced him to look at his own choices.

Yup, this is pretty much it. Don't take this personally. In fact, consider it him doing you a favor because if he can't support your new eating (and drinking) way of life then that is not someone you want around. And if can't see all of the other wonderful things you bring to the table, that is his selfish choice. You need a strong man, not this wimp!

Thanks for the update! So glad you are not in much pain anymore. I did hear about the drinking Water thing after surgery so I'll be sure to opt for IV fluids rather than getting water down. Hopefully that will be an option. I hope you get some rest over the next few days and get those steps in!

I'll be thinking about you! You'll do great!!

I find this very strange.

Ever since my surgery date was scheduled, my relationship with food has totally changed. Before I made the decision to get a sleeve done, I felt hopeless and depressed about my weight. In a totally counterproductive way, I soothed those feelings by overeating. For years I have done the "I'll start tomorrow, next week, next month" dance and those tomorrow's, week's and month's never came. But now that I have an actual surgery date, my hope has been restored and my circumstantial depression is evaporating. With that, I find that my unquenching desire to eat is evaporating, too. Don't get me wrong, I am still eating things that are not good for me but it is not constant and I don't find myself anxious to get hungry again so I can gorge. If that makes any sense at all.

I hope this feeling continues as it will make my 2 weeks pre-op diet go a little more smoothly. (Although I am thinking of starting at 3 weeks out to allow myself a week to adjust - i.e. make mistakes)

No need for replies. I'm just putting virtual pen to paper right now.

For those who read this, thanks!

I have almost all the reasons everyone else mentioned in these responses and other than the obvious health reasons, my big one is this -

I want pictures of myself with my mother before she dies.

When my dad was dying, I didn't take any pictures of us together in those last couple years. I was embarrassed and ashamed and that shame robbed me of visual memories. I don't want that to happen ever again.

I know this sounds crazy but I got those "excitement" twinges in my stomach reading your last two posts. I guess it is because your excitement level is coming through so loud and clear. Get ready because your life is about to change for the better!!

For the hospital, do you have a pair of those socks with those rubber grips on the bottom? Not sure if you will get a pair while there but I know that is definitely on my list!

17 minutes ago, LRJ said:

I've told no one other than my emergency contact and I've had some second thoughts about that decision 🙂 I feel zero guilt about not sharing. In fact, I feel good about deciding what's best for me and moving forward. This is personal. There's no obligation to share with anyone else. I'm right there with you on this one.

Thank you! And I hear you about the emergency contact. If I didn't have a conscience, I would have given the doctor's office a fake name and number but I didn't want to throw out bad karma by lying. LOL

I didn't check out your profile and it may be in there but do you have a surgery date set yet?

32 minutes ago, SummerTimeGirl said:

Just completed all my requirements and waiting on insurance approval and a date, I guess, at this point and I have not told anyone but my husband, of course, and our son who lives with us. I didn't want to tell anyone for fear that I would get turned down or something would happen along the way that halts it and then I'd need to explain why. So I figured I just won't say anything until it's all over and done with. I don't foresee anyone talking sh*t about it since all my friends and family know how hard I've tried losing in the past and all my struggles with my underlying conditions. I imagine everyone will be happy for me. And if not, that's on them.

My fingers are crossed that your insurance approval comes in soon and you have a scheduled date!! Thank you for your response!

I'm so excited for you! I can't wait until I am less than a couple days out!

You are such an inspiration! I am a few inches shorter than you but my SW and GW are virtually the same as yours.

Congrats!!

Thank you all so much for your responses so far. I feel so much better. And you are all right - I shouldn't feel guilty at all as this is a personal journey and it belongs only to me.

My sister is, for a lack of a more accurate (and worse) term, a snot. She is not overweight but she is the kind of person who needs to look better than everyone else. She enjoys being the 'thinner' sister. Yeah, like I said - a snot. So she would find any reason to diminish my weight loss and constantly remind me that I took "the easy way out" and didn't make a real effort. And so you all know - I DO NOT FEEL IT IS THE EASY WAY OUT AT ALL! In fact, this process so far has been harder than any diet program I have followed (or tried to follow) in the past. And there were many.

And if my sister knows, everyone in my family will know. Thankfully my mother knows what she is like so I trust she will keep it quiet. And my mom is being very supportive.